Postcolonial Critique Of Zhang Ailing's Fiction

Postcolonialism is a multi-cultural theory which stems from anthropology, sociology, critic of literary, psychology, political science and philosophy. It has a complicated relation with most of popular theories in western society. With the methods of poststructuralism, deconstruction, feminism, and postmodernism, postcolonialism argues that imperialism dominates the Third-world in knowledge, language and culture. Postcolonialism holds that imperialism takes over the Third-world not only in economy and politics but also in culture. Zhang Ailing once lived in the colony of Hong Kong and Shanghai. Her literature was combined with different culture. In the 21 century, many theories exist. With the influence of postmodernism, there are no places for any 'center' and old ideas. In this sense, the research of Zhang Ailing will absorb many new ideas. This thesis will examine Zhang Ailing with the theory of postcolonialism and try to find the important value of Zhang Ailing's fiction.This thesis is composed of four parts:Part One: In the fiction of Zhang Ailing, Hong Kong and Shanghai were the images of the Other. These colonies were combined with east and west culture and different culture collide with each other. Although colonists did not appear in the work of Zhang Ailing, the domination of colonialism were embodied in every place: the party in Mrs. Liang's house, the traditional costume in the hotel of Hong Kong, the style of student's clothes in Hong Kong. All of these old things were showed for the western colonists. On the other hand, Orient was the Other of West. Chinese was regarded as inferior race. Orientalism indicates an authoritative European expertise which explains, controls, and rationalize the images of the Other.Part Two: Zhang Ailing overthrew the Orientalism. Zhang's "Indian Summer" calls attention to the view of colonial cultural practice and account for the displacement of a colonizer's "place" in the Far East with an ironic twist. Zhang's story problematizes this colonial vision and exposes the fallacy of a colonial authority to reinvent the "authenticity" of the Self in the East. With her insight, the colonists were also victims of colonialism, such as Luo Jie in "Aloeswood Ashes: the Second Burning".Part Three: Postcolonialism emphasizes the language and culture in their own countries. Postcolonists argue that writers should absorb culture from their own countries as a weapon to resist imperialism. Zhang Ailing's famous works were written by Chinese, she absorbed the main soul of traditional Chinese literature in her literature, such as structure and style. Zhang Ailing was very much interested in Chinese traditional culture, her work promoted the rebirth of Chinese culture and language. In this sense, she realized the resistance of colonialism.Part Four: In Zhang Ailing's work, female in the colony were suppressed not only by colonialism but also by the power of male. On one hand, female was influenced by the culture of colonialism. It was apparent in the clothes and life style of female. Besides, Female were the desired objects of colonists. On the other hand, over the past centuries, female was suppressed by the power of male. In this sense, female are appendages of male and have no right of speak.